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A red 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD is shown parked near a body of water after researching 'how to sell your car.'

SUV (Sell Ur Vehicle): Six SUVs with Great Resale Values

So you’re trying to sell your car? Selling a vehicle is all too often made out to be a horrific or just full-blown complicated experience, but with the number of tools now available to sell a car, the only thing you have to do is look forward to making money off your vehicle (and maybe buying a new car with that money).

Now, maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “well, I’m not looking to sell my car, so this has nothing to do with me.” Wait. This could have everything to do with you and you may be sitting on a small fortune right now. Maybe selling your car has not once crossed your mind, but maybe you have a vehicle that you’re not using very much anymore, and you could easily get by with a smaller vehicle. You could stand to benefit from selling your current vehicle. SUVs are very popular right now, and because of their high resale value, they are often sought-after in the pre-owned market.

Today, I’d like to discuss a few SUVs that do well when they are resold. An easy way of thinking about resale value is to identify the popularity of the vehicle. Do you have a Jeep Wrangler that is in decent condition? That’s an extremely popular SUV (one which we will discuss below), and so it will likely go for a high price on the used car market. Remember that the quality of the vehicle plays a huge role, so, for those of you who are not planning on selling right now, but think you may end up doing so someday, take good care of your vehicle. Keeping your car in good condition and making sure you stick to a service schedule will pay off in the long run.

Subaru CUVs

Yes, that is correct. Subaru CUVs tend to have excellent resale value. Why is this? Well, there are a number of reasons, but consider that Subarus are relatively affordable vehicles that are built to last––two things people tend to seek out in a vehicle. Because they are built to last, there is greater buyer confidence in a pre-owned Subaru. One of the overall features that make Subarus excellent vehicles for resale is their all-wheel drivetrains; almost every single Subaru is built with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This system is highly praised and sought out, especially in areas with frequent heavy snow. The combination of their longevity-minded engineering and architecture, their drivetrain, and their already-affordable MSRPs combine to make them ideal of resale.

2022 Subaru Crosstrek

While the Crosstrek is not the most exciting vehicle when it comes to performance features, it is a well-built, functional CUV for day-to-day living with good technology and safety features. The Crosstrek will help you save money at the pump as well, with EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of up to 28 MPG on the highway. One thing is for sure; the Crosstrek will provide you with a unique, fun, and active driving experience.

A blue 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness is shown on a forest trail.

2022 Subaru Forester

The Forester, like the Crosstrek, has an excellent combination of safety and technology features. The vehicle has been awarded for its safety technology, including the Subaru EyeSight package, which comes with a number of impressive safety features. With a build that is a bit more athletic than the Crosstrek, it will likely appeal to a slightly different market, but the larger build gives it a hefty increase in cargo and passenger volume. You can fit anything you might need in its 28.4 cu.ft. cargo space or fold the rear seats down to get up to 74.2 cu.ft. of cargo space.

2022 Toyota 4Runner

Toyota has a reputation for selling models that are built to last, and they even sell the most popular SUV on the streets: the Toyota RAV4. However, we recommend taking a look at their larger SUVs as well, especially if you are going to be reselling it. The 4Runner is a relatively popular model when built new, but they tend to do exceptionally well when they are sold as used. The 4Runnner makes for a great family vehicle, but it is also the perfect model for many off-roading adventures. When purchasing this model new, off-roading models tend to be rather expensive, and with that hefty price tag comes an unwillingness to get the car dirty, so to speak. By purchasing this model used, buyers can save a lot of money and won’t have to worry so much about a couple of little chips in the paint from some rocks. If you have a Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, this model tends to do very well when it is resold.

2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

I mean, this one makes a lot of sense. This vehicle is a true workhorse, with the 2021 model delivering up to 416 horsepower; it can even tow up to 7,000 lbs. While having impressive numbers such as these, the G-Class also maintains the expected classiness of a true Mercedes, both inside and out. On the outside, it maintains the vintage feel of its design, while inside, it is just about as classy as they come with its tech features, lighting, and amenities. Sold new, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has an MSRP over $300k; sold used, that price barely drops, and models still go for over $200k. It might not be attainable to the average everyday driver, but if you happen to have one of these in your garage, consider selling it for almost what you bought it for.

A yellow 2021 Jeep Wrangler is shown from the front on a desert highway.

2021 Jeep Wrangler

Yes, the Jeep Wrangler has quite a high resale value, one source estimating the value at 70-84.1% (that’s quite good); while this cannot be applied as a blanket number, of course, any Wrangler should perform quite well if it’s being sold used. The Jeep Wrangler is a very iconic, high-performing, and stylish off-road vehicle. No matter which part of the country you reside in, people are always looking to grab a Jeep Wrangler and are likely willing to pay higher prices for it than they would on other off-roading vehicles (or any other vehicles at all). Who wouldn’t want to cruise around the mountains, highways, or around beaches in a Wrangler, even if it had some use prior to owning it?

Now What?

While I hope this has been helpful to you as far as getting the gears turning, my advice would be to consult a car dealership or a friend who has sold independently before and ask for their advice. As mentioned before, there are now many available tools to make selling a car easy, but you also want to be careful not to be cheated out of a fair deal. An important thing to keep in mind is the difference between “used” and “certified pre-owned.” If the car in question is in good shape and can be sold as a certified pre-owned vehicle, its resale value will be much higher than an average used vehicle. If you have any inclination at all to sell your vehicle––even if you’re not particularly serious about it yet––I say it’s worth the ask; it could end up being a very beneficial economic endeavor for you, and you may end up being very glad that you took the leap.